A B742 crew, finding themselves high and overshooting final, executed a go around.

Attributes
ACN	521299
Time
Date	200108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vcv.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : vcv.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	521299
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : s/o 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were flying a charter to an unfamiliar airport the preferred runway 17 was closed. The best available runway was runway 21 with no instrument approach and significant terrain on extended final. We were kept high by center and released by approach control at approximately 20 NM and 10000 ft for a visual approach. Our normal flying involves vectors to an ILS at about 15 different airfields with an occasional radar vector to a visual. This visual required substantial maneuvering to lose altitude and enter a standard 45 degrees to downwind for a left base. This is a standard VFR pattern, yet one I had not accomplished in nearly 10 yrs. Needless to say, I was rusty on some of the fundamentals. The crew was preoccupied with analysis of the proper terrain clearance and location of the base leg. Meanwhile, a strong south wind caused a drift toward the runway that was unnoticed. About 1/2 way on the base leg/turn to final, we realized we would overshoot the runway. We leveled and went missed approach to a right downwind and uneventful approach and landing. Lesson, don't forget the fundamentals especially on little used approachs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B742 CREW, FINDING THEMSELVES HIGH AND OVERSHOOTING FINAL, EXECUTED A GAR.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING A CHARTER TO AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT THE PREFERRED RWY 17 WAS CLOSED. THE BEST AVAILABLE RWY WAS RWY 21 WITH NO INST APCH AND SIGNIFICANT TERRAIN ON EXTENDED FINAL. WE WERE KEPT HIGH BY CTR AND RELEASED BY APCH CTL AT APPROX 20 NM AND 10000 FT FOR A VISUAL APCH. OUR NORMAL FLYING INVOLVES VECTORS TO AN ILS AT ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT AIRFIELDS WITH AN OCCASIONAL RADAR VECTOR TO A VISUAL. THIS VISUAL REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL MANEUVERING TO LOSE ALT AND ENTER A STANDARD 45 DEGS TO DOWNWIND FOR A L BASE. THIS IS A STANDARD VFR PATTERN, YET ONE I HAD NOT ACCOMPLISHED IN NEARLY 10 YRS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS RUSTY ON SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTALS. THE CREW WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH ANALYSIS OF THE PROPER TERRAIN CLRNC AND LOCATION OF THE BASE LEG. MEANWHILE, A STRONG S WIND CAUSED A DRIFT TOWARD THE RWY THAT WAS UNNOTICED. ABOUT 1/2 WAY ON THE BASE LEG/TURN TO FINAL, WE REALIZED WE WOULD OVERSHOOT THE RWY. WE LEVELED AND WENT MISSED APCH TO A R DOWNWIND AND UNEVENTFUL APCH AND LNDG. LESSON, DON'T FORGET THE FUNDAMENTALS ESPECIALLY ON LITTLE USED APCHS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.